Lefty Explorer Guitars
Welcome to the world of lefty guitarists and join in the search for a lefty Explorer. Unfortunately, Gibson no longer produces any lefty Explorers.
Lefty Guitarist Input...
Like I said, I heard it through another person so I'm not sure if that is completely accurate. I am certain however that there are some used lefty Explorers out there in limited supply and high demand.
Lefties are out there, and they are always looking for guitars. It is said that 15% of the world's population are lefties and therefore there can be as many as a billion lefties roaming the earth today.
As for lefty guitarists, the number is just speculative, but based on past estimates, there can be as many as 2.4 million lefty guitar players in the United States alone. I derived these numbers using elementary school mathematics and the latest census numbers.
They are, of course hypothetical estimates nonetheless. Believe it or not, another odd fact about lefties is that they tend to be wealthier than right handers. This is key to buying an electric guitar in the first place, you can't buy a guitar if you don't have any cash.
If you can add any production amounts, or historic facts involving the Explorer, be it a Gibson or another brand, send us an email to add your valuable information to the site.
If you happen to be a current owner of a rare lefty Explorer please visit the gallery and help us out by uploading a picture. Once again, we are looking for pictures of the Gibsons as well as any other brands (Ibanez, Hamer, ESP, Peavey, Etc).
Other Left Handed Explorers
Other manufacturers have mimicked the Explorer body in lefty version. Gordon Smith is located in the UK, although I don't know much about them, there is a photo of a lefty Explorer style guitar in our photo gallery.
Also, there are SX guitars which are good quality imports geared more toward lefty beginners. Their prices are very reasonable and they are available in the USA.
They are worth the investment if you're looking to try out an Explorer shaped guitar without spending the money on a custom lefty guitar. There are currently two models available, a black version and a metallic maroon version.
Gaskell Guitars is a reputable company that makes an Explorer shape guitar in a lefty production model at an affordable price. This company is Australian and is concentrating on lefty guitars only.
They produce various colors and also a pro model for a few more dollars. Gaskell Guitars is worth checking out to see what has been provided strictly for the lefty guitar players throughout the world.
Another option is a lefty Hamer Standard. These can be ordered and built in Hamer's custom shop with the price point of a typical custom electric guitar. be warned, the word "custom" automatically takes you to a new price point.
The Lefty Guitarist Ratio
The ratio of righty guitarists to lefty guitarists is heavily skewed towards right-handed individuals. The vast majority of musicians, including guitarists, are right-handed. This is because many musical instruments, including guitars, are traditionally designed and manufactured for right-handed players.
It's estimated that around 90-95% of the global population is right-handed. As a result, most instruments are produced with right-handed configurations, making them more widely available and accessible. Lefty musicians, who play instruments in a mirrored or specially designed left-handed configuration, represent a small minority of the overall musician population.
However, it's important to note that being a lefty doesn't necessarily determine a person's choice of instrument. Some left-handed individuals learn to play right-handed instruments due to their availability, while others seek out left-handed instruments to match their dominant hand.
The ratio may vary slightly depending on the instrument and the cultural context, but the general trend is that righty guitarists significantly out-number lefty guitarists in most parts of the world.
See also: Explorer Bass Guitars | Other Left handed Guitars